Indiana Gov. Mike Braun extends gas tax relief, considers Chicago Bears stadium relocation
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun details the extension of the state’s gas tax suspension, which offers Hoosier drivers relief of more than 62 cents per gallon. He points to Indiana’s strong economy and fiscal responsibility as the state actively pursues the Chicago Bears, criticizing Illinois’ handling of stadium negotiations. Governor Braun expects a decision on the Bears’ potential move to Hammond, Indiana within a few weeks.
NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
We could be watching the end of an era unfold in real time as a storied NFL franchise with a century of history in its iconic American city moves forward with its plans to leave town: the Bears advance their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.
The team announced Friday afternoon that it had taken this important step toward withdrawing stakes from Chicago and even the state of Illinois.
The Bears’ board of directors met Thursday evening and voted to approve the proposed stadium development in Hammond, Indiana – with the exact stadium site to be selected.
“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana and Chicago’s South Side through the Loop and through the neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,” Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement.
INDIANA COMES CLOSER AFTER KEY STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE AUTHORIZES STADIUM MEASUREMENT
“It will bring Chicagoland together and provide new opportunities for its residents and businesses.”
This is the first time the team’s board of directors has voted on a stadium site. So that’s notable and significant, but an NFL source told PK Press Club there’s a chance Illinois could still be able to convince the team to stay in the state. These chances have been characterized as requiring a “Hail Mary” political effort.
And this: that Hail Mary, even if it were to work, would still move the club out of Chicago, with the only Illinois location likely being a landing spot in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Chicago Bears helmets are on display before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada on September 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
PRITZKER KNOCKS CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON FOR HAVING “NO PLAN” TO KEEP BEARS IN THE CITY
The NFL has met with the Bears and officials from Illinois and Indiana over the past six months, and the league’s stadium committee is aware of the club’s latest decision.
“The club has kept the stadium committee and league office informed of all developments,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN in a statement.
The NFL apparently has no qualms about the Bears leaving Chicago. The New York Giants left New York and crossed state lines to New Jersey. They were followed by the New York Jets.
The Raiders left Oakland for Los Angeles, then left Los Angeles and are now in Las Vegas. Likewise, the Rams left Los Angeles for St. Louis and then returned to Los Angeles.
And the St. Louis Cardinals are now the Arizona Cardinals.
Chicago Bears President George H. McCaskey introduces new Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren during a press conference at Halas Hall in Chicago, Illinois on January 17, 2023. (Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)
Shiny, money-making new stadiums have the power to attract NFL teams.
Chicago and, to a lesser extent, Illinois haven’t had much interest in helping the Bears build a shiny, money-making new stadium within their borders.
A “megaproject” bill died in the Illinois Senate last Sunday. The proposal would have allowed the Bears to negotiate payments in lieu of paying property taxes on the Arlington Heights, Illinois, property they currently own.
At 11 p.m. Sunday, Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) introduced legislation that would allow Cook County cities with populations over 70,000 (like Arlington Heights and Chicago) to create their own sports stadium authorities. The Bears would then have paid for the construction of the new stadium, for which the franchise dedicated $2 billion in financing.
INDIANA TAKES FIRST ACTION UNDER LONG PLAN TO ACQUIRE PARTS OF ILLINOIS
The bill would have given the team property tax certainty, but it did not pass.
Indiana passed a similar law for the Bears in February, and the bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker meet at a news conference amid reports of federal deployments in Chicago on September 2, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
As it stands, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and JB Pritzker look pretty bad.
These are the politicians who, either through inaction or poor planning, failed to pass legislation to keep the Bears, first, in Chicago, and second, in the state at all.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
They could most likely be considered the politicians who oversaw the departure of a franchise founded in Illinois in 1920 and moved to Chicago by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and owner George Halas in 1921.
Here we are more than a century later, and the Bears are one foot ahead of Chicago and Illinois.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
